LeBron’s home opener a loss
LeBron James scored 24 points for the Los Angeles Lakers in his wild home debut, which included three players getting ejected for fighting late in the fourth quarter of the Houston Rockets’ 124-115 win Saturday.
Chris Paul and the Lakers’ Brandon Ingram and Rajon Rondo were tossed with 4:13 to play after a prolonged series of confrontations that put an ugly end on a celebratory night for Lakers fans eager to welcome James to the West Coast.
The game was close until Ingram was called for a foul while trying to defend an aggressive drive by James Harden, who finished with 36 points. Ingram shoved Harden and then confronted referee Jason Phillips after getting a technical foul.
In the ensuing group argument, Paul stuck a finger into the face of Rondo, who responded by punching his fellow point guard. Ingram then threw punches in the melee, while James attempted to break up the fight by grabbing Paul.
When the action cooled, Harden hit a key 3-pointer to propel the Rockets to their first win of the season. CELTICS 103, KNICKS 101 >> Jayson Tatum had 24 points and 14 rebounds, and Boston withstood his careless foul with 1.9 seconds left to beat New York.
PACERS 132, NETS 112 >> Victor Oladipo had 25 points and seven rebounds to lead Indiana to a victory over the Brooklyn Nets.
76ERS 116, MAGIC 115 >> JJ Redick hit a 3-pointer with 17 seconds left to lift the Philadelphia 76ers over the Orlando Magic.
RAPTORS 117, WIZARDS 113 >> Taking over with Kawhi Leonard getting a night off, Kyle Lowry delivered 28 points and 12 assists to help the Raptors improve to 3-0. HORNETS 113, HEAT 112 >> Kemba Walker scored 39 points, including the game-winning free throw with a half-second left, and Charlotte spoiled Dwyane Wade’s final home opener. The Hornets led by 26 points midway through the third quarter, then wasted it all before Walker saved them on a night when he eclipsed the career 10,000-point mark. PISTONS 118, BULLS 116 >> Blake Griffin had 33 points and 12 rebounds, Ish Smith scored all 15 of his points in the second half, including the game-winning basket, and the Detroit Pistons beat the Bulls in Chicago’s home opener. MAVERICKS 140, TIMBERWOLVES 136 >> Luka Doncic scored 26 points in the teenager’s home debut, Dennis Smith Jr. converted a tiebreaking three-point play with six seconds left and the Mavericks beat the Timberwolves in a wild offensive game. DeAndre Jordan had 22 points, 10 rebounds and five blocks for the Mavericks in his first game in front of the fans who used to boo him unmercifully after the Texas native backed out on a pledge to join Dallas in free agency three years ago. NUGGETS 119, SUNS 91 >> Nikola Jokic scored 35 points, posted a triple-double and didn’t miss a field goal in leading the Denver Nuggets past the Phoenix Suns. Jokic, who had 10 assists and 10 rebounds, joined Wilt Chamberlain as the only players in NBA history to post a triple-double with 30 or more points without missing a field goal. Chamberlain did it twice, in 1966 and ‘67.